Sunday, October 5th Antique Car Show, and Wednesday, October 8th The life and career of Thomas Macdonough

1964 ½ Mustang Featured at Middlesex County Historical Society Antique Car Show

All eyes at the Middlesex County Historical Society’s 29th Annual Antique Car Show and Flea Market will gravitate to this year’s featured car, a 1964 ½ Ford Mustang. It will motor to the show, located at an all new location, Palmer Field adjacent to Washington Street , Route 66 in Middletown on Sunday, October 5. Car registration begins at 8:30 am and judging starts at 11:30 am with trophies awarded at 2:30 pm. General admission is $3.00 and children under 12 are free. Car registration is $10.00. Although cars registered for judging must be dated 1989 or older, there is no cut-off date for cars being placed in the car corral. In case of rain, the show will be held Sunday, October 12.

Please note the new location. The Middletown Sports Hall of Fame at Palmer Field will also be open to visitors beginning at 10 am.Celebrating its 50th Anniversary, the Ford Mustang was introduced to the public April 17, 1964 at the New York World’s Fair. More than 22,000 cars were ordered on the first day and first year sales totaled more than 417,000. The cost of a standard convertible was $2557. The Mustangs produced in the first six months are referred to as 1964 ½ Mustangs. The featured car, owned by Bob and Rob Hanna for thirty years, is in the original prairie bronze color and boasts 6 cylinders.The format of the show has been modified this year. While the entries will still be exhibited in their classes, the trophies, hand-made by the committee, will be awarded to the top 30 vehicles. Flea market spaces are $15.00 and the market opens at 7:00 am. For more information, call the Society at 860-346-0746.

Middlesex County Historical Society to Honor the Hero of the Battle of Lake Champlain

The life and career of Thomas Macdonough will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 8 at 7:00 pm at the General Mansfield House as Society Director Debby Shapiro and Vice President Pat Tully give an illustrated lecture highlighting this storied life. They will be joined by Thomas Macdonough Russell III, a direct descendant of the Commodore. Russell represented the Macdonough family at the 200th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh , New York and will be talking about the festivities as well as displaying artifacts owned by Macdonough.

Thomas Macdonough was the commander of the American fleet on Lake Champlain during the War of 1812. The lake was strategic since it extends into Canada where the British army and fleet were stationed. The British hoped to control the lake, go down the Hudson River, and capture New York City , thus cutting New England off from the rest of the country. The decisive battle occurred on September 11, 1814. Against superior odds, Macdonough, aboard his flagship, the USS Saratoga, bested the British fleet commanded by George Downie. The enemy flagship HMS Confiance and other British vessels struck their colors, and others still under sail retreated back into Canadian waters. The country rejoiced at the victory and it prompted the British to sit down at the peace table and sign the Treaty of Ghent ending the war.Macdonough had married local lass, Lucy Ann Shaler.

They built their home on Main Street , and he participated in the civic life of Middletown , when not at sea. They had 10 children, five of whom lived to adulthood, and are buried in Riverside Cemetery . The Middlesex County Historical Society is headquartered in the General Joseph Mansfield House located at 151 Main Street , Middletown . The Mansfield House is handicap accessible. Donations are welcomed. For further information, contact the Society at 860-346-0746.